22 July 2010

at the Substantive Session of ECOSOC on Agenda Item 14 (d) Narcotic drugs

(New York – 22 July 2010)

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Mr. President;

I would like to take this opportunity to deliver a brief report on the measures taken by the Islamic Republic of Iran on countering the illicit drug during 2009.

Being situated in the neighborhood of the biggest producer of narcotic drugs in the world and in the focal point of the transit route for narcotic drugs, the Islamic Republic of Iran is engaged in a full-fledged conflict with narcotic drugs from different dimensions.

Fighting illicit production and trafficking in narcotic drugs, as the oldest form of transnational organized crime, has for decades been, and still is, a top priority for the international community. The pervasive nature of this phenomenon has made it such an international problem that can only be curbed through collective and concerted efforts based on the principle of shared responsibility. It is unfortunate, however, that despite the existence of relatively sufficient international legal apparatus, the cultivation, production, consumption and trafficking in narcotic drugs have sharply increased within recent years which for sure, will have its direct impact on the increase of other forms of the organized crime in the world.

Failure of the international community in resolving the problem of drugs in Afghanistan has made drug trafficking a serious threat to our societies. The Islamic Republic of Iran has always encouraged and supported creating proper mechanisms for international and regional cooperation to better counter drug-related crimes. My country particularly has been supportive to a regional initiative called “The Triangular Initiative” between Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, which also enjoys the support of the UNODC. The Triangular Initiative has led to various achievements such as the establishment of the Joint Planning Cell (JPC), implementation of three joint operations in 2009 and 2010, setting up Border Liaison Offices (BLOs) in the joint border of the three countries and implementing reconnaissance operations and seizing precursor consignments.

The Islamic Republic of Iran illustrated her firm position in curtailing illegal narcotics transit from Afghanistan by sacrificing thousands of Iranian police personnel and allocation of billions of dollars. Based on such an approach, the Islamic Republic of Iran has mobilized 30,000 troops of her military and disciplinary forces along the joint borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

By spending approximately 600 million dollars annually, my country has strengthened the physical barriers along its eastern borders with Afghanistan. Such physical barriers have made the Iranian territory more insecure and costly for international drug traffickers and increased the risks for drug smuggling. Recently, measures for creating barriers along the western borders of Iran have also been commenced to block the passage of illicit drugs out of the country.

All these measures have resulted in confiscation of massive volumes of various types of narcotics which ranked Iran first in the world by discovering 80 percent of whole worlds’ opium and heroin seizures. It should be mentioned that the aggregate amount of drug seized by the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2008 has reached the figure of 702 tons. The Islamic Republic of Iran managed to seize approximately 1100 tons of different types of opium-based drugs in 2009, 81 percent of which were seized in eastern borders.

Mr. President,

Other actions taken by Iran on its fight against illicit drug trafficking are briefly as following:

– Signing memorandum of understanding with about 40 countries;

– Equipping the border points with the required technologies, promoting the qualitative and quantitative level of the personnel involved in combating illicit drugs and setting up a technical group for combating illicit drugs at the Police force faculty;

– Participating in TARCET operation which aims at preventing the smuggling of drug producing chemicals into Afghanistan;

– Promoting the approach for considering an addict as a patient, developing treatment, rehabilitation and vocational training services, offering treatment services in prisons, paving the way for further contribution by the non-governmental sector and NGOs in demand reduction programs, performing new treatment methods and alleviating the consequences of addiction in different parts of the country;

– Participation in reconstruction and alternative development efforts in Afghanistan;

– Signing 9 joint projects with UNODC in the fields of demand and supply reduction and the rule of law;

– Cooperation with International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) for organizing a bank for contribution in reconstruction and alternative development plans in Afghanistan. Collecting, analyzing and reporting data, completing the questionnaires, accurate implementation of conventions and supervision over imports and exports of substances under control via the Pre-export Notification (PEN) system.